About Robert Swaney Consulting, Inc
Meet Bob Swaney
For over twenty years, Bob Swaney has established himself as one of the leaders in fundraising for orchestras. Bob’s hallmark has been to develop sustainable high-leverage / high-return fundraising programs that are strategic, growth-oriented, and donor-focused. His simple yet systematic approach to fundraising is highly effective in virtually any size market and for any size institution. As a full-time fundraising consultant for the arts since 2006, Bob is now applying that experience to arts organizations all across the country.
Founder, Robert Swaney
Bob began his career in arts management as a telemarketing / tele-funding phone room manager and quickly gained notoriety as one of the top-producers in the orchestra field. After serving several years in a variety of progressive fundraising positions with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Bob spent four years with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he focused his energies on annual fundraising for both the CSO and its companion training organization, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. During his time in Chicago , Bob was responsible for individual and foundation fundraising for both of the annual funds, as well as assisting with the efforts for a $110 million capital / endowment program. His time with the Civic Orchestra also afforded him the opportunity to be involved in successfully building that institution’s first board of directors.
Leaving Chicago for St. Louis , Bob became the associate director, then later the director of development for the St. Louis Symphony, where he led efforts that doubled the annual fund within a five-year period. His success in St. Louis led Bob back to Indianapolis , where he first returned as director of development and then as the assistant vice president for development and marketing. Under his strategic leadership, the Annual Fund enjoyed three successive record-breaking years and over $30 million was committed to the capital / endowment campaign.
On a part-time basis since 1993, Bob has also been engaged as a fundraising consultant to orchestras, museums and other not-for-profits across the country. In the fall of 2006, Bob retired from the arts management to launch RSC, Inc.
Bob builds his programs on the belief that careful planning and a commitment to applying the necessary momentum, velocity and leverage to a fundraising program are the keys to attaining successful long-term contributed financial growth. He also believes that because each institution is unique, the fundraising program must be fully integrated with both the mission of the institution and the community it represents. He bases all of his fundraising programs and counsel on these beliefs.
You may contact Bob Swaney by email at RSC@rrsconsult.net
Meet Scott Giffen
With nearly fifteen years of hands-on arts administration experience, Scott Giffen’s fundraising, marketing, and executive management repertoire spans classical music to modern dance, arts education programming to musical theatre productions, and grassroots organizations to “Group 1″ orchestras.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Scott began his career as an arts administrator in St. Louis, Missouri, serving first as Executive Director for GASH/VOIGT Dance Theatre, then Development Director for STAGES ST. LOUIS. Later as Executive Director for Young Audiences of St. Louis, Scott broadened his industry knowledge into arts education. In 2005, Scott moved to North Georgia and accepted a multi-faceted leadership fundraising position with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO). For each organization, Scott posted double digit contributed revenue growth, consistently surpassed multiple campaign goals, and established new fundraising programs that positioned organizations for future expansion. Most recently, at the ASO, Scott surpassed the $3 million mark in institutional support for the first time in the orchestra’s history and also signed the largest symphony/airline partnership to date.
Scott’s specific expertise includes:
- creating prioritized, donor-focused fundraising initiatives,
- designing asset-rich and mutually beneficial partnerships,
- implementing sound financial structures, and
- building encouraging and innovative executive management programs.
As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Scott offers full-scale training for development officers, management executives, and board members to maximize their fundraising potential. He earned his business degree (emphases in arts management and finance) and vocal performance degree from Greenville College that recently awarded him with their Outstanding Young Alumnus award. Scott also completed a masters-level intensive through New York University’s Visual and Performing Arts Administration program in Holland, Germany & Spain.
Scott recognizes that each artistic expression is unique and, therefore, each arts organization requires a customized strategic plan that methodically vets priorities and passionately promotes a solid mission. As a professional singer and musician, Scott’s calling is to empower artists by strengthening the organizations that support them.
You may contact Scott Giffen by email at sgiffen@rrsconsult.net
